close friend of the late Bernie Whitebear who spearheaded the reclamation, Pam has worked with the center since its inception and the depth of her connection to the space and its legacy was apparent as she spoke. Through teary eyes, she thanked everyone for our presence, for breathing life back into the struggling Daybreak Center, and for the inspiration and promise of better days to come through solidarity, mutual support, and community building.

Below is an interview I did with Lady Belknap on the origins of this event, its impact and the intersections of culture, struggle, Hip Hop, and decolonization. A more thorough write up on the performance aspect of this showcase by Ramona Ridgewell, along with more photos from the show is available here. JULIE C: What was your vision for this event?

LADY BELKNAP: My vision for the Native
American Hip Hop Concert was to showcase Native rappers to the Northwest
publically, including myself, Lady Belknap. Never did I dream that this
event would be so publicized and there would become a demand in the
state of Washington for more Native Hip Hop concerts in the future
because of this event.Initially, I simply wanted to help keep the doors of the United Indians/Daybreak Star open because they were about to foreclose on the property and lose everything. I had a strong burden in my heart to help and do something, anything no matter how small the effort was. From the time I pitched the idea to United Indians to have an All-Native American Hip Hop Benefit Concert line up, a big check came in to help keep the doors open at Daybreak Star. Therefore the concert then became a fundraiser effort for the Seafair Pow Wow, which needed money to happen this year as well.

JC: How does Hip Hop relate to the legacy of struggle at Daybreak and to that of first peoples in general?

LB:If
you read my Lady Belknap Profile, you will see that my music is a story of the
evil that has happened to Native American People over the generations since Assimilation
of First Americans-Native American People in North America.Daybreak Star/United Indians struggle to stay
open is pretty much the story of Native Americans simply trying to stay alive
and exist for generations.To me
personally, this is completely mind-blowing that we as a First Nations people
would have to fight to live and thrive because we were here in the United
States long before it ever was a country.The struggle at Daybreak is no different than the struggle of Native
American Populations all across America today and in the past.Our people seem to have to fight just to stay
alive and exist as sovereign nations as promised in many treaties in the past.

Indian
Health Services Statistics say that Native Americans have at least 100-300% higher
rates than other races in suicide, domestic abuse, teenage pregnancy, high
school dropout, drug/alcohol abuse, death to preventable things like car
wrecks, diabetes complications, etc.The
unemployment rates are usually in the 90th percentile on most Indian
Reservations in the U.S. Native American Children put in foster homes in this
nation is sort of an epidemic.This is
sad to know that the indigenous people of this nation have such oppression in
this day and age.

Native
American Hip Hop has become an outlet for Indian rappers, emcees, singers, and
so forth to have an outlet to their pain and frustration, like mine personally
about Native American People’s conditions today.Hip Hop has also become an outlet that Native
Artists can actually have a career in music when no other options are
available.The Native Rappers/Emcees can
use their God-Given Talents to showcase to the world professionally in Hip Hop.You will find there are so many Native
American’s with talent in Hip Hop and simply need a helping hand to show case
their talent, encourage them, and point them in positive directions to
success.This is what the Native
American Hip Hop Benefit Concert at Daybreak Star was about to Lady Belknap,
the host and performer.The traditional
Native American Way is to help others, especially your own people and this was
the underlying motto.

JC: What made you reach out to 206 Zulu
shakas to hold down security force?

LB: I
had been networking via Facebook with 206 Zulu for a very long time.There were many in time that I grew to know
on a professional level in a two years time concerning Hip Hop in the Puget
Sound.I had been watching 206 Zulu for
some time and started going to their events with my family when invited or when
I saw them taking place.Many 206 Zulu
Members told me that they would always be of any assistance for my rap career and
all I had to do was ask.I kept this in
the back of my mind for the future.

I
attended the 10th Anniversary Zulu Event on Valentine’s Day, February
14th, 2014, and was blown away by what I saw! Sista Hailstorm is a
rapper who I only saw on Youtube before, but have been wanting to watch perform
live was spitting on stage with Julie C, and they tore that stage up with fire
on that microphone!I WAS EXCITED!So when it came time for the line-up to be
chosen for the Native American Hip Hop Line-Up to be chosen at Daybreak Star,
the first performer that came to my mind was Sista Hailstorm.

When
I went to the 206 Zulu 10th Anniversary I witnessed so much love,
compassion, caring, and family values I ever saw at a Hip Hop Event.I saw a lady rapping on stage with a baby on
her back! [Olisa 'Spyc-E' Enrico] I NEVER WITNESSED SOMETHING SO BEAUTIFUL IN HIP HOP! In my mind and
heart, I had to collaborate with 206 Zulu on behalf of Daybreak Star/United
Indians because I knew they could teach us how to be unified and love each
other on that kind of level in time as I witnessed on Valentine’s Day of all
days!I was introduced to King Khazm by Miss
Jocie Hamilton, 206 Zulu Member from the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in
Montana.I’m from Montana too and had
been networking with her for a long time via Facebook and met her for the first
time in person that night.

I
also saw Sista Hailstorm acting as security at the 206 Zulu 10th
Anniversary Event and had approached her about being security for our event at
Daybreak as well.I know that Sista
Hailstorm is very traditional and cultural in the Native American Ways and I
knew I could count on her and 206 Zulu to carry that same respect and reverence
as an artist and as security at the Daybreak Star Facility.We were also on a zero budget as well, and I
knew that 206 Zulu would be empathetic to help and volunteer their time and
services.

I
had been watching DJ Too Quick aka Back Pack Chris spin for about a year and a
half at Columbia City Theatre and was very impressed with his skills and
professionalism which is why I asked him to participate as a DJ, and he said yes
immediately.I didn’t know that he is
Native American from Alaska as well.I
was very shocked and very happy that he was the disc jockey who represented the
1st Nations as well.The
audience loved DJ Too Quick as did the volunteers and rappers.

Shigg
Says Radio was broadcasting the event live and I had asked him because of his
DEEP love and reverence for Underground Hip Hop and a friend was very impressed
with his skills and the way he works well with people.He’s a person who loves to exhort and lift
others up with a positive mental attitude always!I chose to ask Shigg because of these
things.Of course, he was excited to
broadcast the show live and had so many interviews that he could barely keep
up!I watched him at the Native Hip Hop
Benefit Concert as excited as a little kid in a candy store or toy store,
haha.JShigg
wants to follow all of the artists who performed Native and Non-Native in our
careers.

My
vision for this Native American Hip Hop Fund-Raising Concert surpassed anything
I had initially envisioned.I’m excited
to take the contacts and team mates I gained and do something with hip hop
professionally not only in the Puget Sound in Seattle, but in Washington State
and all over Indian Country in North America!